Ironing board clothes guard



1951 F. J. RAUSCHER IRONING BOARD CLOTHES GUARD 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec 22, 1948 Inventor Frank J. Rausc/rer 1951 F. J. RAUSCHER 2,564,627

IRQNING BOARD CLOTHES GUARD Filed Dec. 22, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Q Inventor Fig. 6 Fig. 5.

Frank J. Rouse/re! V," 7'' Illr By W 2? Attorneys Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRONING BOARD CLOTHES GUARD Frank J. Rauscher, St. Paul, Minn.

Application December 22, 1948, Serial N0. 66,722

6 Claims. (01. 38-111) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in ironing boards, and the principal object of the invention is to prevent clothes from becoming soiled or wrinkled by contact with the floor while the ironing operation is in progress.

This object is achieved by the provision of what may be referred to as a guard, the latter being disposed above floor level and suspended from the ironing board structure, so that portions of clothes or other material ironed on the board may hang downwardly and contact the guard without becoming soiled or wrinkled on the floor.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for collapsing the guard so that the ironing board together with the guard may be conveniently and expeditiously stored when not in use. p

Another feature of the .invention involves the provision of means for suspending the guard from the ironing board structure, these means also contributing to the convenient and expeditious storage features of the device as aforesaid.

Some of the advantages of the invention lie in its simplicity of construction, in its adaptability for use with ironing boards of various sizes and types, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects in view and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the construction and arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing board showing the invention in association therewith;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5--5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 6--6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an underside plan view of the subject shown in Figure 1, but illustrating the same in its folded or closed position; and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 88 in Figure '7.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the reference character I0 .indicates a conventional ironing board including an elevated platform l2 supported by a set of downwardly divergent legs 14 and by a set of downwardly convergent legs IS, the latter legs being reinforced to the former by suitable tie rods I8 and the entire leg structure being collapsible in any conventional manner, so that the ironing board as a whole may be conveniently folded when not in use.

The invention resides in the provision of a clothes guard designated generally by the reference character 20, this assuming the form of an attachment for the ironing board It] and embodying in its construction a collapsible, elongated frame 22, the construction of which will first be explained.

The frame 22 consists of a central longitudinal bar 24, a pair of lateral longitudinal bars 26 which are disposed at the sides of the bar 24, and pairs of laterally projectable straps 28 which have inner ends thereof pivoted to the bar 24 as at 30, that is to say, the inner ends of the straps in each pair are pivoted as at 30 to the bar 24 at a common point, as is best shown in Figure 2.

Moreover, the outer ends of the straps 23 are pivotally connected to the lateral bars 26 as at 32, the pivots 32 assuming the form of swivels which are equipped with suitable eyes 34 to receive intermediate portions of pairs of laterally projectable pieces 36, the inner ends of which are pivoted to the central bar 24 at the common pivot points 30, as is best shown in Figures 2 and 3.

A cross member 38 is slidable on the central bar 24 and is pivotally connected as at 40 to a pair of links 42, each of which, in turn, is pivoted as at 44 to one of the lateral bars 22. It is to be also noted that an additional pair of laterally projectable pieces 46 are pivoted at a common point 48 to the bar 24 adjacent the cross bar 38, the pieces 46 extending through further swivel eyes 50 provided on the links 42, as is best shown in Figure 2.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that if the central bar 24 is held stationary, movement of the lateral bars 26 in, the direction of thearrow 52 (see Figure 2) will cause the pieces 36,

46 to swing inwardly as shown at 54, so that the frame will be collapsed. During this action, the cross bar 38 will slide on the bar 24 in the direction of the arrow 52, being urged to do so by the links 42. On the other hand, when the bar 24 is held stationary and the bars 26 are moved in the direction of the arrow 56, the pieces 36, 46 will be projected laterally. The projected or extended position of the frame is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and '3, while the collapsed position thereof is shown in Figure '7.

Matters are so arranged that the frame 22 in its collapsed position does not exceed in width the width of the ironing board platform l2, but when the frame is extended, the pieces 36, 46 project to both sides of the platform, although the frame is disposed substantially below the level of the platform, as will be hereinafter described.

A sheet of foldable material such as fabric, netting, or the like, is provided on the frame 22, this sheet of material being designated by the reference character 58, and it being noted that the marginal edge portion of the sheet is formed with a hem 60, preferably containing a flexible reinforcement 62 (see Figure 5). The outer ends of the pieces 36, 46 are attached as at 64, 66, respectively, to the hemmed portion 68 of the sheet 58, and the hem at one end of the sheet accommodates a suitable cross member 68 secured to the central bar 24 of the frame 22.

It will be observed that when the frame 22 is extended, the sheet 58 will be stretched, so to speak, while when the frame is collapsed, the sheet will collapse or fold itself accordingly, as shown in Figure 7.

The entire guard is adapted to be disposed somewhat above the lower end of the legs l4, 5 when the ironing board is erected as shown in Figure 1, means being provided for suspending the guard in this position, these means involving the provision of pairs of flexible suspension elements 10, 12, such as ropes, cables, chains or the like, which are suitably anchored at their lower ends to the frame bar and links 26, 42, respectively, as is best shown in Figure 1. The sheet 58 is provided with a plurality of slits I2 through which the suspension elements 10, 12 may extend upwardly, and the upper ends of these elements are provided, in turn, with suitable clamps 16, 18, respectively, which are adapted for attachment to the respective legs [4, I6, as shown in Figure 1. Moreover, a pair of rigid braces 80 are loosely connected as at 82 to the cross bar 38 (see Figure 4) and are clamped to the lower end portions of the legs [6 as at 84, so that the entire guard 20 is supported in the position shown in Figure 1 when the ironing board is erected. However, when the ironing board is folded by collapsing its legs l4, l6, the guard 20 is drawn to a position under the platform i2, this being facilitated by the flexibility of the elements I0, 12 and also by the foldability or collapsibility of the legs l4, l6, as will be clearly apparent. When the device is folded in this manner, the frame 22 may be collapsed as shown in Figure 7, so that it does not project beyond the sides of the platform, whereby the ironing board and guard may be conveniently and expeditiously stored. On the other hand, when the invention is placed in use and the ironing board is erected, the guard will project substantially to both sides of the platform, and will prevent overhanging pieces of clothes, or the like, from becoming wrinkled or soiled by contact with the floor.

It is to be noted that the legs l4 extend downwardly past one end of the sheet 58, but the sheet is formed with a suitable opening through which the remaining legs [6 may project as shown. To facilitate installation and removal of the guard 2|] on the leg structure of the ironing board, the central bar 24 of the frame 22 may be formed in two sections which are separably connected together as at 82, whereby the sections of the central bar may be separated and inserted through the space between the legs l6. However, once the guard is applied to the leg structure, it need not be removed from the ironing board when the latter is to be folded, except when it is desired to clean or replace the guard, as will be readily understood.

The central bar 24 of the frame 22 may be provided at one end thereof with a hook 84 which is releasably engageable with a coacting hook 86 secured to the underside of the ironing board platform I2, the two hooks being engageable when the ironing board is collapsed and the guard 20 disposed at the underside of the platform 12, so that when subsequently the ironing board is stood on end in the conventional manner, the hooks 84, 86 will prevent the guard 20 from dropping downwardly, as will be clearly apparent. Needless to say, the hooks 84, 86 should be disengaged when the ironing board is erected, so that the guard 26 may be lowered to its normal position adjacent the lower ends of the legs [4, l6.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and, accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In association with an ironing board including an elevated platform and two sets of downwardly extending leg members, a clothes guard comprising a set of longitudinal bars and pairs of laterally projectable pieces defining an elongated frame disposed under said platform adjacent the lower ends of said leg members, the

laterally projectable pieces in each pair being pivoted together and pivotally connected to said bars whereby said frame may be adjusted from a collapsed position wherein the width thereof does not exceed the width of said platform to an extended position wherein said pieces project to the sides of the platform, a sheet of foldable material covering said frame, and means on said frame for suspending the same from said leg members.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet is provided with an opening to receive one set of said leg members.

3. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means include flexible suspension elements anchored at one end thereof to said frame, and leg member engaging clamps provided at the remaining ends of said elements.

4. In a clothes guard for ironing boards, a collapsible frame comprising a central longitudinal bar, a pair of lateral longitudinal bars disposed at the sides .of the central bar, pairs of straps pivoted to the lateral bars, inner ends of the straps in each pair being pivoted to the central bar, swivel eyes provided at points of connection of the lateral bars and said straps, and laterally projectable pieces extending through said swivel eyes and having inner ends thereof pivoted to the central bar.

5. The device as defined in claim 4, together with a cross bar slidable on said central bar, and a pair of links pivoted to said cross bar and each pivotally connected to one of said lateral bars.

6. In association with an ironing board including an elevated platform, and a set of downwardly extending legs, a clothes guard comprising a collapsible frame disposed under said platform and 15 Number projecting to the sides of the latter when in its extended position, means for suspending said frame from said platform, said frame being collapsible to a position wherein the width thereof 6 does not exceed the width of said platform, wherein said frame is elongated and includes a set of longitudinally extending bars, and pairs of laterally projectable pieces pivoted to the longitudinal bars, inner end portions of the laterally projectable pieces in each pair being pivotally connected together.

FRANK J. RAUSCHER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,074,049 Griflith Sept. 23, 1913 1,278,072 Ossry Sept. 3, 1918 1,897,081 Sorensen Feb. 14, 1933 2,447,907 Henderson Aug. 24, 1948 

